Building surveyor : Employers and vacancy sources

The UK construction industry consists of over 250,000 firms and employs 2.1 million people. UK designers, civil engineers, contractors, and component and product manufacturers have a worldwide reputation for working overseas. With the increase in private finance for public sector projects, British consultants and contractors are well positioned to offer their skills and experience and can also provide high-tech solutions to environmental, transport and building projects.

Building surveying is required in a wide variety of real estate markets, including residential, commercial, leisure, agricultural and industrial markets.

As a chartered building surveyor, you could work in the private, corporate, public or voluntary sectors. Typical employers include:

• specialised private practices, e.g. surveying firms, specialist property consultancies and construction companies;
• central government, e.g. valuation office;
• local government, e.g. local authorities;
• large property-owning organisations, such as housing associations, retailers, leisure groups etc;
• public-private organisations;
• loss adjusters.

Opportunities in surveying are linked very closely to the health of the economy and the state of the property market and construction industries, which are cyclical and closely intertwined. Although the property market almost came to standstill following the recession, building surveyors are still very much in demand.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Estates Gazette    
• Building  
• Contract Journal   
• Careers in Construction    
• Property Week  - weekly.
• Opportunities: The Public Sector Media  
• Jobs in Surveying   

Recruitment consultants often handle vacancies in this area: Macdonald and Company  are endorsed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) .

Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.